The voice acting was originally scheduled for [[Phil Hartman]], who also voiced {{s|Troy McClure}} on ''The Simpsons''. But due to Hartman's death in [[1998]], the voice acting was given to [[Billy West]]. As a tribute, the makers of ''The Simpsons'' dedicated an {{w|Bart the Mother|episode}} to him and retired his characters. On ''[[Futurama]]'', [[Philip J. Fry]] was named in his honor.

+

The voice acting was originally scheduled for [[Phil Hartman]], who also voiced {{s|Troy McClure}} on ''[[The Simpsons]]''. But due to Hartman's death in [[1998]], the voice acting was given to [[Billy West]]. As a tribute, the makers of ''The Simpsons'' dedicated an {{w|Bart the Mother|episode}} to him and retired his characters. On ''[[Futurama]]'', [[Philip J. Fry]] was named in his honor.

Billy West has stated that Zapp Brannigan is how he envisions Captain Kirk playing William Shatner. West also based the voice on certain radio announcers he's heard who love the sound of their own voice and often enunciate ending consonants.

Billy West has stated that Zapp Brannigan is how he envisions Captain Kirk playing William Shatner. West also based the voice on certain radio announcers he's heard who love the sound of their own voice and often enunciate ending consonants.

Contents

Personality

Zapp Brannigan.

Although he claims to be a strategic genius, Zapp Brannigan is actually an imbecile and a coward whose plans could have easily been conjured up by a child. Zapp is inexplicably well-respected throughout the universe, appearing as a Miss Universe Judge [2ACV06] and often (ineffectively) defending Earth from attacks. Due to his stupidity and incompetence, most battles Zapp leads are lost; however, sometimes the army is lucky. Zapp doesn't care about casualties and cheerfully sends wave after wave of his own men to die in battle. [1ACV04] He also apparently suffers from a learning disorder that he calls sexlexia, which is a disturbingly erotic disorder, [2ACV17] though this may simply have been a pick-up line. The central law of DOOP, Brannigan's Law, is named after him. [1ACV04] All this aside, he actually seemed happy for Kif after Kif had just given birth. [4ACV01]

Contrary to his robust self image, the real Zapp Brannigan has a prominent beer belly and wears a blonde toupée to hide that he is, in fact, bald. [4ACV01] His specially designed DOOP uniform includes a revealing kilt.

Biography

Zapp Brannigan is hardly ever seen without his second in command, Kif Kroker. Zapp and Kif have a tough time working together and Zapp treats Kif like a slave, making his job the second most humiliating job there is. Some of the jobs Zapp makes Kif do are shaving his armpit while he was bathing. Even though he treats Kif badly he always gives advice, usually bad advice, to Kif whenever he needs it and also calls him his most best and loyal friend.

He repeatedly attempts to seduce Leela, whom he slept with, in his Lovenasium, on their first meeting. After that fateful night, Leela ended the relationship and chose saving Nibbler over getting back with Zapp and being rescued. Zapp keeps trying to get together with Leela and sometimes even mentioned what happened between them in court but she invariably turns him away sometimes even pretending that she has a fiancé. At the battle of Spheron 1, Zapp was attracted to new male recruit Lee Lemon and feared he might be gay and was relieved to find out that it was actually Leela.

Only once was Zapp's incompetence shown when he blew up DOOP's new headquarters with the Nimbus' hyperdeath laser. This led to him and Kif being banned from the DOOP. The two were employed by The Professor to work at Planet Express which led to Zapp convincing Bender and Fry to mutiny against Leela. Zapp escaped and was given back his title as General even though he tried to pilot the Planet Express Ship into the Neutral President's home.

Brannigan also served a short tenure as honorary captain of the ill-fated intergalactic cruise ship Titanic, wich he piloted into a black hole on its maiden voyage.

Family

Zapp has at least three children, born to Holo-Shed characters who became real. [4ACV01]

Was "host" to a dozen or so Da Nangian spawn. The children were presumably eaten by Zoidberg. [US#004]

Billy West has stated that Zapp Brannigan is how he envisions Captain Kirk playing William Shatner. West also based the voice on certain radio announcers he's heard who love the sound of their own voice and often enunciate ending consonants.

Additional Info

Trivia

In the commentary for "When Aliens Attack", it is speculated that Zapp got promoted from Captain to 25-star General sometime since we last saw him. [1ACV10] However, it is common for the person in command of a ship to be called "Captain" regardless of their actual rank.

Was crushed while riding in an army tank with Kif, trying to destroy a giant version of Bender. [2ACV16]

Quotes

Zapp: [saluting] Mr. President, what the hell?

Zapp: Well, well, well...

Zapp: Leela! So it's you I've been attracted to. Oh God, I've never been so happy to be beaten up by a woman.Leela: Let's do it again sometime.

Richard Nixon: My God, cover yourself. I didn't live a thousand years and travel a quadrillion miles to look at another man's gizmo.Zapp: Sorry, Mr. President, I didn't realise. Kif; raise him up about nipple high.

Zapp: Now, like all great plans, my strategy is so simple an idiot could have devised it.

Zapp: Brannigan's law is like Brannigan's love: hard and fast.

Zapp: If we can hit that bullseye the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards, checkmate!

Zapp: I am the man with no name. Zapp Brannigan at your service.

Zapp: Captain's log. Stardate: The Year of the Tiger. The battle has been bravely fought, and the suffering of our troops, beyond measure. But the alien is invulnerable, and our defeat: inevitable. That much is certain, even from my remote command post here at the Times Square Applebee's.

Zapp: What an erotic display of girl-on-girl consolation!

Zapp: Now remember, Kif, the quickest way to a girl's bed is through her parents. Have sex with them and you're in.

Zapp: I surrender and volunteer for treason.

Zapp: She's built like a steakhouse but she handles like a bistro.

Zapp: Stop exploding you cowards!!

[Being sentenced to death by snu-snu (sex.] ]Kif: Oh.....Zapp: What are you? Gay?

Zapp: What the hell is that thing!?Kif: It appears to be the mothership!Zapp: Then what did we just blow up!?Kif: [Checks on a map.] The Hubble Telescope.